Swift Fox Symposium

The Status of the Swift Fox in Zoos and How Both Can Benefit from
Each Other.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the status of the swift fox (Vulpes
velox) in zoological institutions, explain how zoos can contribute to
the in situ conservation of this species, and discuss the benefits
of including swift fox in an institution's collection plans.

By adding the swift fox to collection plans, zoos can preserve the species'
genetic identity, educate the public about this little-known species and its
role in the prairie ecosystem, and can contribute to its conservation and
propagation. In return, zoos gain an animal that is hardy, easily cared for,
and easily exhibited. It also provides zoos with an opportunity to promote
their role of conservation and relay that message to the public. Furthermore,
exhibiting the swift fox allows the zoo community to join forces with wildlife
agencies to become "net producers" of wildlife rather than "net consumers"'
as often perceived by the public. In conclusion, three major points to be
covered include:

1) The status of swift fox in captivity,

2) Zoos can play a key role in the conservation of the swift fox by including
them in their collection plans,

3) Zoos can benefit from the inclusion of the swift fox in their collection
plans in the areas of conservation, science, education, and recreation.